U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY— BULLETIN NO. 40. 

5 p D. E. SALMON, D. V. M., Chi^f of Bureau. 

DESCRIPTION MD TREATMENT 



SCABIES IN CATTLE 



BY 



RICHARD W. HICKMAN, V. M. D., 

Chief of Miscellaneous Division, Bureau of Animal Industry. 




; '"'■""?- '^r nnwQpj 



WASHINGTON : 

-OVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
I 902. 



I'lVibiON Of [; 




Qass. 
Book. 



a 



Bulletin No. 40, B. A. I. 



Frontispiece. 




Fig. 1.— Langedahl. Raising Cage loaded with Two Yearlings. 



'j.ii5*'4p. 







Fig. 2.— Langedahl. Steer just leaving Cage. 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY— BULLETIN NO. 40. 



D. E. SALMON, D. V. M., Chief of Bureau. 



DESCRIFflOti AND TREATMENT 



SCABIES IN CATTLE 



BY 



RICHARD W HICKMAN, V. M. T)., 

Chief of Miscellaneous Division, Bureau of Animal Industry. 




WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
1902. 









1 



ORGANIZATION OF THE BIREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



Chief: D. E. Salmon, D. Y. I\I. 

Assistant chief: A. D. Melviii, D. V. S. 

Chief clerk: S. E. Burch. 

Dairy division: Henry E. Alvord, C. E., chief; R. A. Pearson, M. S., assistant chief. 

Inspection division: A. M. Farrington, B. S., B. V. S., chief; E. B. Jones, assistant 

chief. 
MisceUaneous division: Richard W. Hickman, Ph. G., V. M. D., chief. 
Editorial clerk: George Fayette Thompson. 
Expert in animal husbandry: George M. Rommel, B. S. A. 
Artist: W. S. D. Haines. 
Librarian: Beatrice C. Oberly. 

LABORATORIES. 

Biochemic division: E. A. de Schweinitz, Ph. D., M. D., chief; Marion Dorset, M. D., 

assistant chief. 
Expert in dairy chemistry: George E. Patrick, M. S. 
Pathological division: Ch. Wardell Stiles, A. M., M. S., Ph. D., chief. 
Zoological division: John R. Mohler, V. M. D., zoologist; Albert Hassall, M. R. C. V. S., 

acting assistant zoologist. 

EXPERIMENT STATION. 

Superintendent: E. C. Schroeder, M. 1). V.; exjjert assistant, W. E. Cotton. 
2 



'''i.;?^;** 



o4 

Co 



LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Bureau of Animal Industry, 
J^asMngton, D. C. , January 25, 1902. 
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a brief manuscript on 
the subject of Scabies in Cattle, by Dr. R. W. HicKman, chief of the 
miscellaneous division of this Bureau. Numerous requests for infor- 
mation have been received by this Bureau as to the character of this 
disease and the methods of treatment, and this paper has been prepared 
with a view to answering these inquiries. Accompanying the manu- 
script are specifications and drawings for making dipping vats, and 
also a list of lumber and hardware required. 
Respectfully, 

D. E. Salmon, Chief of Bureau. 
Hon. James Wilson, 

Secretary of Agriciolture. 

3 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Preliminary statement 7 

Cause of scabies, or mange 7 

Form and life history 9 

Disinfection H 

Treatment H 

Dipping plants 1^ 

List of materials - 14 

Specifications for large dipping plant with swimming tank 18 

Specifications 18 

Lumber bill 21 

Schedule of hardware, etc ....,. = .. 23 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PLATE. 

Pl. L— Langedahl dipping vat. Fig. 1. Raising cage with two yearlings. 

Fig. 2. Steer just leaving cage Frontispiece. 

TEXT FICtURES. 

Fig. 1. Derrick 1-1 

2. Vat 15 

3. Cage 16 

4. Drip chute 17 

5. Sand glass 17 

6. Steer emerging from dipping vat or swimming tank of large plant ... 18 

7. Plan of dipping plant 19 

8. Vertical section of dipping vat 19 

9. Side view of dipping vat 19 

10. Swimming tank with incline and drip chute 19 

11. Vertical section of swimming vat 20 

12. Plank, showing beveled edge for calking 20 

13. Sill and upright, showing method of joining 20 

14. Vertical section of an older style of automatic trap 21 

15. Spring trap set 21 

• 16. Spring trap sprung 21 

5 



SCABIES IN CATTLE 



PRELIMINARY STATEMENT. 

Numerous letters are addressed to this Bureau making inquiry with 
regard to a disease called Texas itch. As this disease does not exist 
except to a very limited extent, if at all, in Texas, it seems strange 
that this name should be applied to it. Dr. M. Francis, of the Texas 
Experiment Station, says that the disease has never been observed 
among the cattle of that State. It is also known as range itch, cattle 
itch, and cattle mange, the last being the correct name, as it really is 
mange, or scabies. This disease has prevailed to a considerable extent 
among the range cattle of the West and Northwest, and has been heard 
of in other portions of the country also, and inquiries are constantly 
received for instructions in its treatment. 

CAUSE OF SCABIES, OR MANGE. 

Scabies, or mange, of the ox is a contagious disease caused by a 
parasitic mite. Cattle are affected with two varieties of these parasites, 
Avhich belong to the class Arachnidas. The Psorojjtes communis var. 
hovis, is the one which most frequently affects them. It lives on the sur- 
face of the skin and gives rise to great irritation and itching by biting, 
and is most frequent upon the lateral aspect of the neck and shoulders, 
at the base of the horns, and the root of the tail. From these points 
it spreads to the back and sides, and may invade nearly the entire 
body. Its principal manifestations are more or less numerous pim- 
ples, exudation, and abundant scaling off, or desquamation, of the skin, 
falling out of the hair, and the formation of dry gray-brownish scabs. 
In the course of time the skin becomes thickened, stiff, wrinkled, and 
acquires the consistence of leather. When mange has spread over a 
large surface of the body, the animals lose flesh and become weak and 
anemic, rendering them constitutionally less able to withstand or com- 
bat the effects of the mites. At the same time the decreased vigor 
and lessened vitality of the affected animals favor the more rapid 
multiplication of the mites and the further extension and intensifica- 
tion of the disease. Thus we have cause and effect working together, 



8 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

with the result that scabies, or mange, in cattle may in some cases 
prove fatal; especially are fatal terminations liable to occur in the lat- 
ter part of a severe winter among immature and growing animals, or 
those of adult and full age when in an unthrifty condition at the time 
of becoming infected. There have been noticed variations in the prog- 
ress of the disease depending upon extreme seasons — aggravation in 
winter alternating with improvement in summer. 

The mite which causes cattle itch, or mange, is closely related to 
the mite which causes sheep scab — both belonging to the same genus 
and species, but are different varieties. The sheep-scab mite will not 
attack cattle, nor will the cattle mite attack sheep or other animals. 
The itch mites are found to ]>e very numerous upon affected cattle, 
and a ver}^ small quantity of debris from an actively infested area of 
the skin will often reveal a surprisingly large number of the parasites. 
These mites may be removed from an animal and retain their vitalit}^ 
for a long time. Specimens have been collected and kept in small 
glass bottles in the laboratory at the ordinary temperature of the room 
during the winter months varying from 4:5^ F. during the night to 
80^ F. during the da}", which would live and remain active from eight 
to eleven da3"S. Exposure to bright sunlight, however, would kill 
most of the mites in a few hours. 

Scabies does not appear to affect cattle while the}" are doing well on 
grass, nor attack those in good condition over three years old. The 
animals which suffer most are calves, yearlings, and two-year-olds, and 
those in poor condition. The first symptom of the disease is usually 
an intense itching of the skin about the neck or shoulders, and it 
extends more or less rapidly, depending largely upon the health and 
vigor of the animal, along the back and sides and down the outside of 
the legs, but does not usually affect the inside of the legs or the skin of 
the abdomen. 

The other variety of this parasite which produces mange in cattle is 
the Ohorioptes symhiotes var. hovis. This is known as symbiotic mange, 
or tail mange. It remains generally localized upon the depressions on 
the back part of the croup and at the base of the tail. It may, how- 
ever, extend over the whole surface of the body if the treatment of the 
disease and care of the affected animals are neglected. These cases, 
however, are rare. Foot mange is also exceptional in cattle. Sym- 
biotic mange has almost no spreading tendency, and its contagiousness 
is hardly noticeable. It yields readily to treatment and any remedy 
that will destroy the activity of the parasite producing the Psoroptic, 
or common, form of mange will readily kill that causing the symbio'tic, 
or tail, mange. It is possible for the different morbid conditions pro- 
duced by these two varieties of parasites {Psoroptes comnnmls and 
Cliorioptes symhiotes) to coexist. 



SCABIES IN CATTLE. 9 

FORM AND LIFE HISTORY. 

The Psoroptes live upon the surface of the skin, adhere to it, and 
suck the blood and lymph of the skin by means of their mouth organs, 
producing a more or less intense inflammation through the numerous 
stings which the}^ inflict. This species is characterized by its rela- 
tively greater size, its dimensions being 0.5 to 0.8 millimeter. Its 
general form is rounded or ovoid. It can be seen with the naked eye 
upon dark surfaces, and is verj^ easily seen with the help of a magni- 
fying glass. The head is elongated and pointed. The mandibles are 
long, straight, and stinging. The legs are veiy long. The sucking 
cups, tulip or trumpet shaped, are carried by articulated pedicles. 
In the male they are seen on the four pairs of legs; in the female, upon 
the flrst, second, and fourth pairs only. The Psoroptes in their 
immature form have three pairs of legs, while in the adult state they 
possess four. The latter with Ave joints are fitted with suction cups 
covered with fine hair and armed with claws or hooks. The head, 
thorax, and abdomen are not separated. The organs of mastication 
are represented by mandibles. The skin surface is covered with 
scales, hair, spikes, or silk}^ hair, etc. 

Females, which are larger than males, lay from 20 to 21 eggs; at 
the end of 4 to 7 days the larv^ come out, and after having under- 
gone 3 or 4: metamorphoses, arrive at the stage of reproduction from 
the fourteenth to seventeenth da3\ If exposed to damp air, or placed 
upon wet manure, the mange parasites continue to live from 6 to 8 
weeks. Upon damp ground the eggs remain alive from 2 to 4 weeks. 
In a dry place they lose their vitality after 4 to 6 days. Moderate 
heat is favorable to their vitality and to the hatching of the parasites. 

In warm places under cover, and during the summer, their move- 
ments are more active and the}^ multiply more rapidly than under the 
opposite condition. It has been estimated that one female alone may 
produce 1,500,000 individuals in 90 days. 

Each animal species has its acari, or specific mange parasites; con- 
sequently, the expression ''mange" must necessaril}^ be incomplete 
unless the variety of the parasite is indicated. Thus of the Psoroptic 
acari, we have Psoroptes communis equi^ which produces Psoropti<,^ 
mange in the horse, P.s(yroj)tes communis hovis in the ox, and Psoroptts 
communis ovis in the sheep. 

In each of these animals we also have the symbiotic mange, and in 
each the variety w^ould be designated as in the case of the Psoroptic 
form; but in neither variety is the contagion transmitted from one 
species gf animal to the other. The symbiotes live especiall}^ upon 
the surface of the skin of the extremities, and exist in epidermic 
scabs. They are from 0.3 to 0.5 of a millimeter in diameter. Their 
outlines are visible to the naked eye or with the magnifj^ng glass. 



10 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

The head is short, and wider than long. The body is slightly ovoid 
and notched upon the periphery. The legs are long and the sucking 
cups are shaped like a Roman shield, and are distributed in both the 
male and female, as in the case of the same organs on the legs of the 
Psoroptes. 

Sarcoptic mange is a more serious disease than either of those already 
described, but is not common to cattle. It would not, therefore, seem 
important to refer to this form of mange parasite and occupy space in 
this bulletin except by a reference to the serious disease which is 
produced by the Sarcoptes through certain characteristics natural 
to them. We find Sarcoptic mange in the following domesticated 
animals — horse, sheep, goat, dog, cat, and pig. 

The Sarcoptes dig subepidermic galleries and live on the plasma 
cells of the malpighian laj^er. They multiply in these galleries and 
occasion a ver}" intense dermatitis, or inflammation of the skin. Because 
of the depth to which the Sarcoptes burrow, Sarcoptic mange is exceed- 
ingly hard to eradicate. It would, therefore, seem fortunate that this 
form of the disease is not common to cattle. It is rebellious to all medi- 
cation, and very frequently recurrences of the disease produced by 
the Sarcoptes are seen in other species of animals after treatment 
which has been prolonged for months. 

Concerning the transmissibilit}^ of the difl'erent manges to animals 
and man, we find that all Sarcoptes may live for an indefinite period 
upon man's skin, but the Psoroptes and Symbiotes die very rapidly 
and occasion but slight irritations. The horse ma}^ contract Sarcoptic 
mange of the sheep, pig, dog, and cat. The ox takes the Sarcoptes of 
the horse, sheep, goat, and cat. The sheep contracts Sarcoptic mange 
of the goat. The dog takes the Sarcoptes of man, pig, cat, sheep, and 
goat. The pig contracts Sarcoptic mange of the goat. From this it 
will be seen that Sarcoptic mange, unlike the Psoroptic and Symbiotic 
manges, is transmissible from one species of animal to another. 

Mange is never developed except by contagion. The period of 
incubation — that is, the interval that lapses betAveen the moment when 
the acari are deposited upon the surface of the body and the appear- 
ance of the disease on the skin— varies according to the number of 
parasites transmitted. When in small numbers, the first manifesta- 
tions of mange are sometimes only seen at the end of 4 to 6 weeks, 
while at other times the disease may be clearly apparent at the end of 
15 days. Contamination takes place either by direct contact — that is. 
immediate, as on pasture, at the stable, etc. — or by intermediary 
agents. 



SCABIES IN CATTLE. 11 

DISINFECTION. 

What has already been said with regard to the contagious character 
of scabies in cattle — of the number of scab mites which may be found 
in a small quantity of the debris of the skin and their ability to live 
and remain active for a considerable length of time under unfavorable 
conditions — will indicate the importance of the thorough disinfection 
of corrals, sheds, or buildings in which affected cattle may have been 
kept. It is therefore necessary, in order to attain success in the treat- 
ment of this disease, to destroy parasites which have fallen off or have 
been dislodged from the animals as well as those that are upon them; 
otherwise there is danger of their becoming reinfected from the prem- 
ises after the effects of the remedy applied to the animals have disap- 
peared. 

TREATMENT. 

Methods in operation for the treatment of scabies in sheep have 
become more or less familiar to all people interested in sheep hus- 
bandry, and it may be said that the same treatment so successfully 
applied in ridding sheep of scabies has been found equally efficacious 
in the treatment of scabies in cattle. 

In 1898 the Bureau of Animal Industry issued Bulletin No. 21, entitled 
"Sheep Scab: Its Nature and Treatment," which gives a description 
of this disease in sheep, its cause and treatment, with numerous formu- 
las for the preparation of dips, and illustrations of the methods of 
applying them, together with directions for their use on both a large 
and small scale. The treatment of such large animals as cattle, which 
are difficult to handle, both because of their size and the conditions under 
which they live — the latter making them more or less intractable — 
would require a considerable amount of any preparation thoroughly to 
wet all parts of their bodies; next to effectiveness, therefore, small 
expense is the first object that must be considered. In the treatment 
of cattle for scabies, it seems fortunate that the dips of lime and sul- 
phur, both of which are inexpensive, have proven effective and entirely 
satisfactory. During the past season thousands of cattle have been 
successfully treated for mange in the State of North Dakota, which 
work has been carefully investigated and observed by Dr. Robert H. 
Treacy, an inspector of this Bureau, who has furnished diagrams and 
photographs of the various plants, and who states that the dip which 
has been universally used in that section is that designated in Bulletin 
No. 21 as the No. 3 South African (Cape Town) official lime-and-sulphur 
dip (February 1, 1897), which is as follows: 

Flowers of sulphur pounds. . 21 

Unslaked lime . . : do 16| 

Water gallons. . 100 



12 BCJEEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 

Place the unslaked lime in a mortar box or some suitable vessel and 
add enough water to slake the lime and form a lime paste or lime 
putty. Sift into this lime paste the flowers of sulphur and stir the 
mixture well. Be sure to weigh both the lime and sulphur, and do 
not trust to measure them in a bucket or guess at the weight. Place 
the sulphur and lime paste in a kettle or boiler with about 25 or 30 
gallons of boiling water, and boil the mixture for two hours at least, 
stirring the liquid and sediment. The boiling should be continued until 
the sulphur disappears, or almost disappears, from the surface. The 
solution is then of a chocolate, or liver, color. The longer the solu- 
tion boils the more the sulphur is dissolved, and the less caustic the 
ooze becomes. Most writers advise boiling from thirt}" to forty min- 
utes, but a much better ooze is obtained b}^ boiling from two to three 
hours, adding water when necessary. Pour the mixture and sediment 
into a large tub or barrel, placed near the dipping vat, and provided 
with a bunghole about i inches from the bottom, and allow it ample 
time (from two to three hours or more if necessary) to settle. The 
use of some kind of a settling tank provided with a bunghole is an abso- 
lute necessity, unless the boiler is so arranged that it mav be used for 
both boiling and settling. An ordinary kerosene oil barrel will answer 
ver}^ well as a small settling tank. To insert a spigot about 3 to 4 
inches from the bottom is an easy matter. Draining ofi* the liquid 
through a spigot has the great advantage over dipping it out in that 
less commotion occurs in the liquid, which therefore remains freer 
from sediment. When fully settled, draw off the clear liquid into 
the dipping vat and add enough warm water to make 100 gallons. 
The sediment in the barrel ma}^ then be mixed with water and used 
as a disinfectant, but under no circumstances should it be used for 
dipping purposes. A double precaution against allowing the sedi- 
ment to enter the A^at is to strain the liquid through ordinar}^ bagging 
as it is drawn from the barrel or settling tank. 

The above directions are for the quantity ox dip given in the pre- 
ceding formula. Any multiple of the constituents may be used, 
depending upon the capacit}^ of the boiler, vessels, and tank to be 
tilled, but, let it be repeated, that there should be no guessing about 
the proportions; that the directions for the preparation of the dip as 
here given should be closety followed, care being taken that boiling be 
continued for the full time recommended, and that the sediment is not 
used for dipping purposes. 

In order to attain success in the treatment of mange, care and 
thoroughness of method must be observed. Animals that have been 
exposed should be dipped as well as those that show distinct evidences 
of the disease. After the lapse of a few weeks following the first 
dipping, the animals should be subjected to a second dipping, in order 
that parasites which may have survived the lirst treatment, or that 



SCABIES IN CATTLE. 13 

ma}^ have gotten on the annuals from corrals, sheds, buildings, or 
elsewhere, may be destroyed. Several thousand cattle were carefully 
examined by our inspector forty days after being put through the dip 
for the second time and he failed to find evidence of scabies on any 
of them. These animals commenced to improve soon after being 
subjected to the first dip, as the dip killed lice as well as the scab mites, 
and owners of cattle adjacent to the dipping plants have declared their 
intention to dip in future years to kill lice, even if scabies does not 
exist. The dip liquid in the tanks during the whole dipping process 
should be kept at a temperature of from 102^ to 110^ F. Each animal 
should be kept two minutes in the dip, and be put completely under 
twice during that time. All bad cases should be hand-rubbed and 
kept in the dip four minutes. 

Pregnant cows have been treated, as well as cattle of all ages, from 
calves to full-grown steers, with the loss of but one animal in one of 
the swimming tanks. This was a steer which for some reason seemed 
to be unable to swim and was drowned. It would appear that the dip- 
ping of cows has no appreciable effect upon abortions, as a comparison 
with previous years showed that the dipping had not increased the 
average number of abortions regularly occurring among these herds 
before dips were used. 

DIPPING PLANTS. 

Of the various dipping plants in use, there are but two kinds that 
need description — the small dipping plant, which is inexpensive and 
suitable for use by a community of farmers, and the larger dipping 
plant with swimming tank, such as would be needed if large numbers 
of range cattle are to be treated. A suitable plant for a community 
of farmers has been built for $150, while a swimming tank will cost 
$350. 

Such a plant as that in operation 18 miles north of Steele, N. Dak. , 
known as the Langedahl, would seem to be an admirable example of 
the smaller kind. This plant, with the exception of the tank, was 
built by farmers. A thrashing engine was used for heating purposes 
by connecting a l^-inch pipe to the whistle intake, the whistle being 
removed, and the pipe joined to the union. The plant has a capacity 
of 200 head per day. Its cost, without engine or labor, excepting the 
labor to build the tank or vat, was 1150. One person can easily lower 
the cage when loaded by taking a hitch around a post, and it may be 
raised, as shown in illustrations, either with engine or horses. (See 
frontispiece.) 

Following are the drawings and list of materials for the smaller 
plant, the tank of which may be filled with dip made as per preceding- 
formula for about $7.50. Drawings and list of materials were fur- 
nished b^ Dr. Robert H. Treacv. 



14 



BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



LIST OF MATERIALS. 



Entrance pen and chute. 



65 i^lank 2 inches x 6 inches x 16 feet. 

28 posts. 

18 braces 4 4 4 . 



800 feet good 2-inch plank. 
400 running feet tongue strip. 

10 pieces 4 inches x 4 inches x 16 feet 
2 pieces 2 6 16 

10 pounds lead. 



Tank, or vat. 




Fig. 1.— Derrick. Sixteen ft. high above ground. Derrick posts 4 ft. in ground, 6 by 6 by 20 ft. long. 
Braces 4 by 4 by 10 ft. long; 2 double-leaf 6-in. blocks at top of derrick, and 1-leaf 5-in. pulley at 
bottom of derrick; 100 ft. of 1-in. rope. 

Cage. 

8 pieces 4 inches x 4 inches x 16 feet. 

8 pieces 2 4 16 . 

12 pieces 2 10 16 . 

10 pieces 1 10 16 . 

4 half-inch iron rods, with ring in each end, 5^ feet long. 

2 half-inch iron rods, with ring in each end, 4 feet long. 

3 pair of heavy hinges. 

Derrick. 

2 pieces 6 inches x 6 inches x 20 feet. 
1 piece 6 6 10 . 

6 pieces 4 4 12 . 



SCABIES IN CATTLE. 



15 



Dri}> chute. 



10 pieces 2 inches x 6 inches x 14 feet. 
4 pieces 2 12 14 . 

4 pieces 4 4 16 . 
1 pair heavy hinges. 

1 gallon tar. 

32 cedar or oak posts. 
200 pounds wire. 

5 pounds staples. 



Holding pen. 




Fig. 2.— Vat. Tank 10 ft. deep, 4 ft. wide, 9 ft. in ground. Should contain from 5i to 6 ft. of dip. 
Standards 4 by 4 by 16 ft. long, bolted to tank inside, to extend 6 ft. inside of tank, to act as guides 
to cage; 2 by 6 in. plank 6 ft. long nailed to outside of standards; 2 by 4 or 2 by 6 in. braces across 
top of standards. The tank should be built of 2-in. plank and joined with a tongue, the ends of the 
tank mortised in, the; joints coated with lead. The braces are 4 by 4. The tank, being placed in the 
ground and packed solid, does not require much bracing. The tank should be laid in cement bot- 
tom, with |tone and mortar about sides. 



16 



BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



Hardware and Incidentals. 

100 pounds 20-penny spikes. 
20 pounds 40-penny spikes. 
2 6-inch double-leaf blocks. 
1 5-inch single-leaf block. 
100 feet 1-inch rope. 
25 feet Ij-inch iron pipe. 
1 galvanized-iron heating tank (5 barrels capacity). 
4 oil barrels. 

A plant of this capacit}^ will answer veiy well in a community where 
various owners have bunches of cattle ranging from 80 to 100 head or 




Fig. 3.— Cage. Eight ft. long, 8 ft. high, 2h ft. wide— inside measurement; 2-in. plank used for outside 
boarded up and down inside with 1-in. boards to keep animals from climbing up sides. Plank 2 
in. apart. Inside boards 2 in. apart, and 1-in. cracks in floor to allow free escape of dip fluid. 

less. Among its chief advantages over the swimming tank are cheap- 
ness in construction, because of its size, and proportionatel}^ smaller 
expense in operating; the dip can be kept at the required temperature 
with facility, because of its lesser volume, and the submerging of the 
animals, as well as the length of time it is desired to keep them in the 
dip, can be more easily regulated. 

In communities where mange does not exist and where numbers of 
small herds are infested with lice, a plant of this character might be 
constructed and used with profit to the cattlemen. Many of the cattle 
that were dipped during the past year because of having been exposed 



SCABIES IN CATTLE. 



17 



to mange, or scabies, by being herded with those affected, showed 
much improvement in condition soon after dipping, as they were 




~^ >rROuGH TO LATCH DRIP - -■=::- —^ — 

Fig. 4.— Drip chute Fourteen ft loner 2 bv 6 in pi ink 5 ft high Set with 18-in slope from lioiit to 
rear. Trough at rear to catch drip, tiom which a pipe may be run to connect with tank to carry 
drip from drip chute back into tank. Floor of drip cliute should be tight to prevent waste. 

infested with lice to a considerable extent, although showing no dis- 
tinct evidence of being affected with mange. It was observed that the 
lousy and mangy cattle stopped rubbing or digging after the lirst dip, 




Fig. 5.— Sand glass. For timing the animals in the dip. Is made of two ordinary ketchup bottles 
connected by a hollow wooden cork, placed in a box, and the box hung on a pin through the 
center to revolve, as shown in the illustration. 

and improved rapidly after being relieved of the torture that is 
inflicted by both of these troublesome parasites — scab mites and lice. 
17159— No. 10—02 2 



18 



BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



SPECIFICATIONS FOR LARGE DIPPING PLANT WITH SWIMMING TANK. 

The following plans and specifications are for the construction of 
such a dipping plant as that of the Rice Lake Cattle Compan}^, which 
is located 12 miles north of Sterling, N. Dak., and are in accordance 
with the drawings made for that compan}^ after the following specifi- 
cations : 



SPECIFICATIONS. 



Specifications of labor and materials required in the construction of a cattle dip- 
ping plant to be built at for , in accordance with draw- 
ings made for the same by A. Van Horn, of Bismarck, N. Dak. 




Fig. 6.— Steer emerging froni dipping vat, or swimming tank of large plant. 

Excavations. — Excavate for the vat, as shown by the drawings, to the proper depth ; 
level the bottom of the pit for the sills of the vat. After the vat is completed and 
the outside has been coated with coal tar, fill in around the vat, using the surplus 
earth to bank up and grade the sides of the vat above the natural grade, sloping the 
banks from the vat. Dig all holes required for the gate and fence posts. 

Carpenter imrk. — All work must be done in a skillful and workmanlike manner; 
the framework of the vat to be bolted and spiked together; the plank of sides, ends, 
and bottom of the vat and dripping floor to have edges beveled for the calking as 
per detail, w^ell driven together and well spiked with 20d. wire nails, using 40d. nails 
on the 3-inch plank. Calk all seams with oakum, well driven in with a calking iron 
and pitched. The exit, or inclined end, of the vat to have 3-inch bottom plank ; all 



SCABIES IN CATTLE. 



19 



other plank of the vat and dripping floor to be 2 inches thick. Top of vat tu be tied 
with 4x4 inch ties across top, framed and bolted to uprights as shown. Put 2 x 12 
inch splash boards on sides at top of vat, nailed to under side of tie timbers and 
braced. The exit end of vat and dripping floor to be cleated with 1 J x3 inch strips, 
well nailed to floor and bottom. Construct the trap at entrance— 30 x 84 inches— of 







Fi<i. 7.— Plan of dipping plant, viewed from above 




Fig. 8.— Vertical section of dipping vat, with older-style automatic trap on pivot. It will be seen 
that the incline at the bottom of the trap end of the vat is in a perpendicular line with the free 
end of the trap; where the spring trap is used, the length of the incline should be increased in 
order that at the bottom of the vat it may still be in line perpendicularly with the end of the trap 
Avhen set; otherwise cattle are liable to get back under the trap, causing trouble. 





"•• 


s 




T 








1 




-1 




-p 


- 3fr 


3 


.^ 




















; 








■' "'^^ 






o: 


^ 




^ 




? 






J k 





Fig. 9.— Side view of dipping vat, showing inclined egress and dripping floor. 




Swimming tank with incline and drip chute, looking from above. 



2-inch plank, with 2 x 10 inch battens bolted together, top to be covered with 14- 
gauge skeet steel. Trap to swing on a 2-inch wrought-iron pipe or 2-inch steel bar 
seated in the end of vat, with ^ x 4 x 12 inch iron sockets bolted to vat. Secure the 
trap to the axle with iron straps bolted to under side of the center battens. End of 
vat to have false back as shown. 



*iO 



BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



Gates and fence. — Construct and erect the gates and fence as per drawings. The 
gate post to be set 4 feet in the ground and the fence posts 3 feet 6 inches. Set all 
posts plumb and to a line; well and thoroughly tamp the earth around the posts. The 
bottom of all posts to be coated with coal tar before being set. Gate posts to be 




^^ 



^Z^^t^tT^^, 



Fig. 11.— Vertical section of swimming vat, showing end of trap. 




Fig. 12.— Plank showing beveled edge for calking. 




Fig. 13.— Sill and npright, showing method of joining. 

8x8 inches, with 6x8 inch tie framed and driftbolted to the posts. Fence posts to 
be 6 X 6 inches. The gates to be bolted and spiked together and braced as shown. 
To be hung with J x 3 x 36 inch strap eye-and-bolt hinges. Bolt to run through 
posts and hinges ])olted to gates. Gates to have ^ x 3 x 16 inch iron hasp bolted to 
gates and a suitable bolt staple, with iron pin and chain for locking. 



SCABIES IN CATTLE. 



21 



Fence.— The fences to be five-railed, with cap, ribbon fence. Rails, or ribljons, to 
be of 2x6 inches, with 2x8 inch cap, spiked at each bearing with two 40d. wire nails. 
Posts to be set 8 feet on centers, or nearer where distance may require. 



t^.-. . ^-r 



Fig. 14.— Vertical section of an older style of automatic trap, showing '-'-in. iron pipe upon which 

trap is pivoted. 

Liunher. — All lumber to be to No. 1 pine or fir dimension, free from shakes, bark, 
large pitch pockets, unsound knots, or other imperfections that materially im^mir its 
strength, durability, and use for which it is intended. 
Drainage.— T\\Q vat to have a 2-inch waste pipe 
fitted in the bottom with gate valve and elbow, and 20 

feet of pipe to run hori- 
zontally under ground, 

with a fall of 2 feet on 

16 feet. At this point the 

owner will take up the 

drainage without cost to 

the contractor, and con- 
tinue the same to a 

suitable point either by 

pipe or open ditch. 
D imens ions of vat. — 

Perpendicular depth of 

vat to be 10 feet; width 

at top, 7 feet; width at 

]>ottom, 2 feet; length 

of level bottom, 24 feet; 

horizontal length of 

sloping bottom, 15 feet; width of dripping floor at upper 

end, 12 feet; at lower end, 5 feet. 

Floor of pens.— &>hou\d the owner decide to floor 

the catch pen and holding pen No. 1, the floor will 

be of 2-inch plank nailed to 4 x 4 inch joist or sleepers 

let into the ground and leveled. The sleeper to receive 

one coat of coal tar before being laid. 





Fig. 15.— Spring trap set. 



Fig. K).— Spring trap sprung- 
This trap is hung on an iron 
rod or on a 2-in. iron pipe; 
weights are attached at the 
free end to pull it back in 
place; it then sets automati- 
cally. 



LUMBER BILL. 

Vat and dripping Jloor. 

Plank for sides, ends 1,080 feet = 30 pes. 2'' x 12^^ xl8^ No. 1 pine or fir. 

' 576 24 2 12 12 '' 

64 2 2 12 16 

96 2 2 12 24 

or 3 16 

240 5 3 12 l(i 



False back and l:>ottom. 



3 



12 12 



22 



BUKEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



Sills, uprights, and ties 



Splash boards. 
Cleats 



Trap 



24 feet 

37 

64 

32 

27 

64 
336 

96 

21 

19 
160 

54 

23 
30 



1 pc. 4' 

2 pes. 4 

3 4 
2 4 

4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
2 

2 

9 



X y^ X 18^ No. 1 pine or fir. 



2 
2 

21 
4 
1 
1 
4 
9 
1 
1 



4 
4 
4 
4 
6 
4 
4 
4 
4 
12 
3 

10 
10 



14 
16 
12 
10 
16 
12 
18 
16 
14 
20 
16 
14 
18 



Total. 



Posts 

Tie beams 
Eibbons.. 
Braces 



Battens or rails 



3, 115 feet. 














Gates. 














896 feet = 


14 pes 


8^^ 


x8^^ 


xl2^ 


No. 


1 pine or fir. 


448 


8 


6 


8 


14 




<( 


480 


40 


2 


6 


12 




" 


144 


8 


2 


6 


18 




" 


96 


6 


2 


6 


12 




" 


128 


4 


4 


6 


16 




a 



Total 



2, 192 feet. 
Fence. 



Posts 2,010 feet = 67 pes. 6'/ x 6'' x 10^ No. 1 pine or fir. 



Ribbons 



Caps 



240 


20 


•> 


6 


12 


140 


10 


2 


6 


14 


1,760 


110 


2 


6 


16 


450 


25 


2 


6 


18 


64 


4 


2 


8 


12 


32 


2 


2 


8 


14 


469 


22 


2 


8 


16 


120 


6 


2 


8 


18 



Total 5,285 feet. 

Note. — Oak or cedar posts are to be preferred. If round cedar posts are used, 
substitute 10-inch round posts for the 8x8 inch and 8-inch round posts for the 
6x6 inch posts as above. 

For catch j^en. 

There should be a plank floor in the catch and holding pen No. 1, but if only a 
limited number of cattle are to be dipped this may be omitted. 

If it is decided to floor these pens the following material should l)e added to the 
foregoing lumber bill: 

240 feet = 15 pes. 4^^ x 4^^ x 12^ No. 1 pine or fir. 
850 " 2'^ pine or fir plank, 12^^ x 18'. 
240 " = 15 pes. 4^^ X 4^^ x 12^ No. 1 pine or fir. 
960 " 2'^ plank 16^ 



For holding pen No. 1 , 



Total 2,290 feet of additional lumber. 

Cottonwood lumber may be used where the market price of same would make it 
practical. 



SCABIES IN CATTLE. 23 

SCHEDULE OF HARDWARE, ETC. 

Vat and dripping foor. 

42 carriage bolts, V^ x &\ witli washers. 

40 "• l_ S 

18 " ^4 

40 lbs. 20d. coiniiion wire Hteel nails. 
10 '' 30 
15 " 50 
1 sheet No. 14 sheet steel, 30^^ x 84^^, with 1 gross V No. 10 screws. 

20 lbs. oakum. 
40 " pitch. 

10 gals, coal tar. 
5 feet 2^^ jjipe or steel bar, for trap. 

21 '' 2'^ wroiight-iron pipe, with conplintjs. 
1 elbow, 2''. 

1 flange for securing i)ipe to bottom of tank, 2^\ 
1 gate valve, 2^^. 

date and fence. 

8 pairs eye-and-bolt hinges, heavy, Y^ x 3^^ x 36^^. 

8 hasps, ^'^ X 16^^ x 3'^, with bolt staple, for 8^^ posts. 
48 bolts, Y' X 3^^ 
20 " J 4* 

68 '' * 6 ' 

160 " ^ 4 
32 driftbolts, ^'' x 12^^ 
20 lbs. 30d. common wire nails. 
65 " 40 
16 gal. coal tar. 

Note.— If catch and holding pen N.x 1 is to be llo.^red. add to the above 30 lbs. of 
30(1. wire nails and 5 gallons coal tar. 

o 



